Photographic developing tray holder



y 3, 1950 J. F. MORSE 2,508,886

PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING TRAY HOLDER Filed Nov. 1, 1947 INVENTOR JOHN F MORSE ATTORNEY Patented May 23, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING TRAY HOLDER 2 Claims.

For the successful development of photographic films and prints, and particularly in color processing, it is essential for the best results that the developing solution be kept at a uniform temperature during the process. It is the object of the present invention to design a simple and inexpensive holder for developing trays by which water at the correct temperature will be circulated in contact with the tray. The device shown and described herein accomplishes this purpose in a very simple manner as it can be placed in the ordinary sink and connected to a source of water in such a way that the water at the proper temperature will flow against the bottom of the tray during the process. This device displaces the more complicated devices for like purposes and does the work satisfactorily with the outlay of a very small sum.

In the drawing there is shown the best known and preferred form of the invention, but it is not intended that adherence to the design, dimensions or details is essential to practicing the invention, as modifications and alterations may be made within the scope of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the tray holder, the tray being removed;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the tray in position in dotted lines; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3Si of Fig. 2.

An ordinary photographic developing tray is indicated at l with a bath of the developing solution therein indicated at 2.

The holder is a mat 3 of approximately the size of the tray and is preferably made of rubber or rubber-like material although other materials may be employed. The underside of the mat is flat so that it may be placed in a sink while the film or plate is being developed. Around the mat and spaced from the edge thereof is a rib 5 on which the tray is seated with the bottom spaced from the main upper surface of the mat to provide a space 6 for the circulation of water against the underside of the tray.

At any suitable point about the tray there is located a transverse enlargement provided with a passage 8 leading to the space 6 and in this passage is located the intake pipe I 0 which is designed to be attached to the water supply.

Preferably this pipe is connected to a thermostatic valve (not shown) which controls and regulates the temperature of the water to the proper degree so that the best results are obtained. At spaced points in the upper surface of the rib are located shallow notches 12 which permit the water to flow out from under the tray at a rate comparable to the rate of intake. The provision of the notches permits the Water to flow out of the chamber 6 so that the tray does not tend to float on the water. To insure that the tray will not be displaced, in the event the notches do not take care of the overflow, a series of lateral branch ribs l4 extend outwardly from the main rib 5 and these ribs terminate in raised lugs l5 which, if the tray does tend to float on the water, will prevent the dislodgement of the tray.

What is claimed is:

1. A holder for trays such as used in photographic development comprising a mat, a rib formed about the mat and raised from the upper surface thereof so that when the tray rests upon the rib a space is provided which is bounded by the rib and located between the lower surface of the tray and the upper surface of the mat, an intase pipe set in the rib and communicating with the area bounded by the rib, and notches in the upper surface of the rib to provide for overflow from the chamber.

2. A holder for trays such as used in photographic development comprising a mat, a rib formed about the mat and raised from the upper surface thereof so that when the tray rests upon the rib a space is provided which is bounded by the rib and located between the lower surface of the tray and the upper surface of the mat, an intake pipe set in the rib and communicating with the area bounded by the rib, notches in the upper surface of the rib to provide for overflow from chamber. and abutments about the edge of the holder extending above the surface of the rib.

JOHN F. MORSE.

The following referenc s are oi record in the file this patent:

UNITED PATENTS umber Nam a Date 647,338 Evans Apr. 10, 1900 1,472,454 Benedict Oct. 30, 1923 2,238,661 Shaeifer Apr. 15, 1941 2,346,535) Wyllie Apr. 11, 1944 

